“It is time to get back on with my job”Toni Elias will return to action at the Cardion AB Grand Prix Ceske Republiky next weekend, having missed the last three races due to a broken femur.

The Spaniard suffered the injury in practice for the A-Style TT Assen and,

after undergoing an operation on the complicated fracture, has undertaken an intensive rehabilitation program at the Rihuma Clinic in Girona.

Speaking at the clinic today, whilst receiving ultrasound treatment from Dr Ricard Hueanos, Elias announced his participation at Brno and elaborated on his current condition.

“When I crashed at Assen, I set a goal in my mind of a return at Brno, and I think that we have achieved this. I won't be 100%, more like 60%, but it is time to get back on with my job and start to ride again”, commented the Gresini Honda rider.“Brno might be difficult in the turns for me with my leg, but we have to see when I get there. I have been undergoing a lot of rehabilitation here and I think that the treatment has worked well”, he added, before noting that the Assen track where he has never been able to take part in a MotoGP race has something of a curse over him.

“If I look at the results of the last three years, then perhaps it would be better that I don't even go to Holland in 2008!”, joked Elias. “No, it is our job as riders to try and improve when things like this happen.”

Still using crutches to move around, things will be difficult for the fan favourite in the Czech Republic, but despite the pain he is ready for action.

“I don't know if the pain of rehabilitation was really worth it!”, laughed the Spaniard. “We know that it comes with the job, and that if you want to ride then sometimes you have to put up with some pain.”
DORNA / CAPSIS International